Tonight we go to bed anxious and excited about the new school year.  Tomorrow, Elliot will go to 1st grade and Isaac will be in 4th!  We had a fantastic summer.  I spent OODLES of time with the boys.  Zoo, parks, baseball, swimming, boating, fishing, playing with cousins and friends.  I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did, and I hope they REMEMBER it.  I sure do love them and treasure every moment with them.  I pray they have a great, safe, and happy 2014-15 school year.  Please Lord, help me be a great mom to them.

Best week EVER

July 14-18 Beautiful week in July.  Gorgeous weather, fun boys and lots of activities.  I was kind of proud of myself....

Monday, baseball at Founder's park and fishing.  Didn't catch anything.  We spent the day recuperating from the long fun weekend on the boat.

Tuesday, took mom to the airport and then headed to the zoo.  First time I ever made it to the zoo at 9am!  Good thing, because all of St. Louis and neighboring cities trickled in all morning.  CRAZY packed by 2pm.  Time to go.  Move out of my way, people.  

The boys were excited because that evening the All Star game was on.  I promised them I'd take them to the Popcorn House for chicken strips while we watched the game.  Long, great day.  Bed felt GREAT.  Wainwright, Matheny, Neshek, Carpenter, Molina.  STL Cardinals representin, yo.  

Wednesday, more baseball at Founder's.  Isaac and Elliot each had a friend (Nolan and Skylar).  Then we headed to the pool.  

Thursday, BASEBALL AT FOUNDER'S.  The boys could go there every day if possible.  This time Casey and Nina met us there with their boys.  Nice game of baseball.  

Friday, more pool time.  Then an evening of baseball by the lake with Bo.  

Saturday and Sunday spent boating and tubing.  Family time on the lake.  Love.

That Monday I got some bad news...mom's cancer is back.  Numbers were very high.  I need to live each day to the fullest.  We just never know what tomorrow will bring.  I love my boys.  I love my life.  #thankfulformyJESUS

So I got a round of applause tonight when I went to tuck the boys in bed.  We had SO MUCH FUN today!  Bo & I surprised them with a Cards/Cubs game.  For Isaac's birthday.  They are such good fun boys.  I love my family.  

Yesterday I got to go with Isaac's class on a field trip. After we got home, Isaac told me he had a present for me. Then he went on to say "well, it's not really a present. I just got something for you. YOu probably won't like it. Maybe it's dumb. But I guess I'll give it to you anyway." He dug something out of his backpack. It was a pamphlet thingy for Fast Lane Classic Cars and it has tons of pictures of cool cars. He knows I love all those classic cars, and I just thought it was the SWEETEST THING EVER that he thought of his momma when he saw it. There is a sweet sweet big hearted boy under that tough exterior.

CHORES! NOW!

Make their beds, put away the silverware and plastic dishes, fold socks/ towels and put away laundry, pick up toys, dust, wipe down placemats after meals, sweep the garage, pick weeds. They really like to squirt windex and wipe, tho I usually have to go back over it. They also LOVE to help cook. Once Anderson asked to clean the toilet (I think he wanted to use the toilet brush??). He really went at it with the Clorox wipe, commenting how many germs were on it. I had to laugh as he was probably responsible for most of those germs. After that, he was much more careful with his aim.

Lucy Nagy WB & Miss M (8 & 6) empty all trash cans, empty the dishwasher, can set the table (with a LOT of reminding, lol), pick up their rooms (M still needs a lot of direction), wipe down the glass door (as high as they can reach), and put away their own laundry.

48 minutes ago · Unlike · 1

Jen Maxedon I have many chose written on pieces of paper. They get to choose. we change every month. But they include: Collecting hangers from closets and taking to laundry area, clearing the table, setting the table, filling the toilet paper holders, puppy duty (feeding/letting out/letting in/kennel), pushing chairs under table when meals are finished, picking up general items in the living room, making beds, running the vacuum (older kids), wiping the bathroom counter tops, taking down laundry. That is all I can think of right now.

35 minutes ago · Unlike · 1

Valarie Elaine Brunjes Maya unloads the dishwasher, takes care of her clean clothes, keeps the bathroom mirror clean, and scoops the litterbox. I don't know how it happened, but she keeps her room spotless and organized without any prodding from me, it must be Carter's influence. I mainly try to get her to always take care of her own stuff, I'm nobody's maid! One time I piled all my shoes and coats on her bed to illustrate how annoying having her stuff all over the living room is, she was not happy :)

Love being a mom

Enjoying this gorgeous day. Dog park & trails with tank & elliot. Could be a few degrees cooler, though. I'm breaking a sweat.  

Earlier in the day:  Elliot just ran into the kitchen and said "Hey! How 'bout you go back to your room?"   Me "why?"  Elliot "I just want to be ayone.  In the kitchen.  So I can pway wif Tank.  Ayone." Wonder how many cookies he wants to sneak...

Nice country drive

As I was driving home today, after taking Isaac to school late because I overslept, Elliot wanted me to go one way and I wanted to go the other. He made me explain why. I said I don't like stop lights. I asked him "wouldn't it be nice if we lived in the country? And it's all nice & quiet? And there are no stop lights?" I was expecting him to say "YES!" because he usually does. But this time he was horrified and said "NO!" So I made him tell me more, and he acted like I was crazy: "There isn't a MCDONALD'S in the country!!!"